You Can Choose What to Believe?

by Sebastian R Fama

I have always been puzzled by Christians who think they can pick and choose what to believe. They say they worship God, and that He is just. Presumably they also believe that He will be the one to judge them. That being the case, is it not reasonable to conclude that God and only God can decide what is to be believed? And wouldn’t a just God leave a system in place that would ensure that His followers would know exactly what was expected of them? Yes, and He has.

In the Great Commission, Jesus said to His apostles: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

That sure sounds like Jesus covered all the bases. He told His apostles to teach all that He commanded them. Obviously then, we are to believe and practice all that He commanded. Being a just God, Jesus guaranteed that what He commanded would always be available: “I am with you always, to the close of the age.” And: “I will build my Church, and the powers of death will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).

When we decide what is to be believed, we presume to speak with Divine authority. Thus, we become the creator, and God becomes the creature. But Jesus is God and we are not. And He said: ”I am the way, and the Truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me” (John14:6). Logically then, if we want to go to the Father, we would have to observe all that Jesus commanded. Doing our own thing would be blatant disobedience.

Disobeying God has consequences: “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 5:6). Jesus said to His Apostles, and by derivation their successors, “He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects Him who sent me” (Luke 10:16). And that is why the apostle Paul said the Church is the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Timothy 3:15). Jesus said: “Follow Me” (Luke 9:59). He never said: “Go your own way.” That was Satan (Genesis 3:4-5).

So, what Church is the Bible talking about in first Timothy? It would be the one Church established by Christ 2,000 years ago. The Church that gave us the New Testament. The Church that has never changed its doctrines. And of course that would be the Catholic Church. At the end of the day, you have two choices. You can accept God, or you can reject God. But the one thing you can never do, is tell Him how to be God.